Page 850 - of-human-bondage-

sandwiches with large, dirty, greasy hands; and there was
grease on her bodice, grease on her apron, grease on her
skirt. She was called Mrs. Fletcher, but everyone addressed
her as ‘Ma’; she was really fond of the shop assistants, whom
she called her boys; she never minded giving credit towards
the end of the month, and it was known that now and then
she had lent someone or other a few shillings when he was
in straits. She was a good woman. When they were leaving
or when they came back from the holidays, the boys kissed
her fat red cheek; and more than one, dismissed and unable
to find another job, had got for nothing food to keep body
and soul together. The boys were sensible of her large heart
and repaid her with genuine affection. There was a story
they liked to tell of a man who had done well for himself at
Bradford, and had five shops of his own, and had come back
after fifteen years and visited Ma Fletcher and given her a
gold watch.
Philip found himself with eighteen shillings left out of
his month’s pay. It was the first money he had ever earned
in his life. It gave him none of the pride which might have
been expected, but merely a feeling of dismay. The small-
ness of the sum emphasised the hopelessness of his position.
He took fifteen shillings to Mrs. Athelny to pay back part of
what he owed her, but she would not take more than half a
sovereign.
‘D’you know, at that rate it’ll take me eight months to
settle up with you.’
‘As long as Athelny’s in work I can afford to wait, and
who knows, p’raps they’ll give you a rise.’